Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Grocery shopping on a small budget.

Today I am making out my monthly grocery list, it can get quite long. The reason I started going only once a month is because we were spending way too much money making "quick" trips to the store. So very recently I started to grocery shopping once a month, usually the first week of the month and then in the middle of the month I do our Wal-Mart shopping (toilitries and such). This works out really well.

My best advice to give is to start planning a few days in advance. I make a first draft list, and then I go through and put the items in order. I also get very specific in the quantities that we buy, I have found that if I have a number next to an item I am more likely to only buy what we need. I have also found coupons to be very helpful, I receive emails from a couple of different coupon web sites. Its so easy because all I do is go through and mark the ones I want and print them off. We also get the sunday paper, which is very helpful in getting coupons.

The first step I take in making my list is to go through and write down all the items that we are in need of. Like this week I know that I am going to need buns, yogurt, cheese slices, etc. Then our grocery store sends out fliers every week with the items that are on sale. I look through that and continue my list. After my list is complete I like to look at the items I have written down and then figure out what meals and how many I can get out of those items. I like to have at least 15 meals taken care of. This past month I was able to buy a bag of fishsticks for about $5.00 and that made lunch 3 times for my boys and I and dinner once for my husband and boys (while I was out with some friends). So I like to buy things that will make several meals and then I rotate them throughout the month. I also wrote a list of the meals and how many they would make and put it on my refridgerator so I could easily look and see what I could make for dinner. When we ate the meal I crossed it off.

The second draft of my list is where I put the items in order according to the aisle (some grocery stores have a list that you can ask them for, I personally just have my grocery store memorized!) As I am doing this I am very careful in making sure that I put quantities next to the items (especially if I am going to use a coupon). I also put a little "c" next to items that have a coupon, so I remember to check the coupon while I am at the store to make sure that I get the right amount and size. Another tip in checking the store circular is to look for items that are on sale and make sure to use your coupon for those items. Its amazing how much money you can save!

My last trip to the grocery store (last month) my total was about $220.00 before coupons and after it was $183.00, so I saved $37.00! I do usually go in the middle of the month and buy more milk or yogurt. I don't like to buy too much of that at one time because it spoils so quickly. I have tried so many other methods and read so many blogs on couponing, but I think the trick is to just find out what works for you and your family and do that! I have taken tips from about 4 different people and made it work for me!

Happy Shopping!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Rain, rain go away!!

I choose that to be my title today because it has rained everyday for the last three days! I know that we need it to help our grass and trees and things, but having two boys that are tired of being inside makes it difficult to be excited about. So today I thought I would brainstorm some ideas about what to do with them when we are stuck inside.

My oldest child (who is 4 1/2) really enjoys to do art projects. I used to teach preschool and so I have a lot of stuff that I can pull out and photo copy. So before Easter we did a lot of spring art work. He had a lot of fun painting and gluing cotton balls on a picture of a bunny. Not very high tech stuff but at age 4 he really got into it!

My 15 month old, however, is a little harder to entertain. So for his Easter gift we found a little ball pit for $9.00 on clearance (after Christmas!). So we set that up in our basement and the boys really enjoy that. I also let them kick balls and play really roughly in the basement, it helps to let them get their energy out. Our basement is partially finished but we don't have very much furniture down there so it provided alot of room for them to run and play.

Recently in my parenting "adventure" I have come to realize that my children are my purpose in life right now, and I should not consider them to be interruptions. I tend to find myself putting off their needs to fulfill my own. Like if I want to spend time on the computer or reading or just sitting quietly (ha.. ok that's a dream!), that seems to be the time when they want me the most. Usually I will either tell them to go play or I just tune them out. I have realized that is not the right way to handle this and that I need to remember that they are only little for so long and then I will be begging them to talk to me. I have also been reading a lot about how to help myself grow spiritually and today I learned that my awareness of God's presence in my life grows as my intimacy with Him grows! WOW, what a simply concept that I never considered before. But the more I thought about it the more I realized that it is true. The times in my life that I have felt stress are the times that I don't feel very close to God. But at the same time the times that I feel a great sense of peace I am spending time with God and getting to know Him better!!

So my encouragement for today is John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." Also Phillippeans 4:7 "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."


Sasha

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Spring has sprung!

I first started blogging last summer, I began to give myself an outlet in life. At the time I had a seven month old and a not quite 4 year old. So for me life was pretty much in a shell of my home. But once preschool started in the fall and all of the other activities started up again, life got really busy and I have not been able to bolg since. So with things slowing down in my life I have decided that its time for me to start again. So here I am!

My boys are now 15 months and 4 1/2 years old. They are both very active, so trying to find things to keep them both interested and busy is a challenge. I am very excited for summer to come so we can get outside more. Today was a wonderful day and I got my first experience with two children at the park. It was so much fun, the 15 month old was having so much fun on the swings! I think that as the summer goes on he will begin to enjoy more at the park and I look forward to lots of outings.

On another note however, life has also been very crazy for me. I have come to realize that I have put myself in the bubble of my children! I swore to myself after my first one was born that I would never be one of those moms. Not that I dote on my children all day long, but sometimes that all I think about and I don't seem to take time to myself. Over the past year I have began to meet with a really close friend about once a month for coffee/soda (I am not really a coffee drinker). This has been such a blessing to my life! Just to know that I have someone to lean on who has been where I am. I have also been blessed to have a couple of moms groups that I have joined. It is so wonderful to know that once a week for one, and every other week for the other, I will meet with other moms who know what I am going through and who can pray with me or just give encouragement.

I hope to continue this blog and share some insights with other, and maybe find some helpful tips to use.